Yeah, it comes a lot from non-Americans on here, then the Americans get upset. The truth is, the Republican party is way further right that most right-wing parties across other western nations. The Democratic is centrist, though has only recently steered away from being a ight-wing party themselves, again, compared to other countries.
The NY Times does a summary of it using data from the Manifesto Project. So, when that’s your environment for the last few decades, it’s hard to notice that a “centrist” from other countries is very likely to share the same and more left ideals than much of the US left-wing.
And the use of the spectrum by Americans is insane as well. It’s so misunderstood and emotional more than anything else. The major criticisms of the left-right spectrum are exactly what Americans do with it and what we’re seeing in comments here. The lines are drawn, the sides are made, they don’t necessarily watch the media, but all of their political consumption is shaped by it and it trickles into their views without realising or intending. This leads to them using the wrong terms for things, explaining traditionally right-wing ideals as if they’re left, and no understanding that a person—and most people—hold both left and right ideas on things. You could package up something right or left with an opposing label on it, and so many would eat it up, because “That’s what I am.” It seems so clear from outside the bubble, but not in there. In there it’s its own beast.
They should be pissed that they’ve come to behave like this, but they don’t realise.
Very well said and you are on point with it. It is emotional because as you said even if you point it out Americans dig their heels in even further. Basically many people unfortunately become victims of propaganda as here in America it is very strong
Being centrist in America is just being right wing then generally. America is very skewed to the right globally
Yeah, it comes a lot from non-Americans on here, then the Americans get upset. The truth is, the Republican party is way further right that most right-wing parties across other western nations. The Democratic is centrist, though has only recently steered away from being a ight-wing party themselves, again, compared to other countries.
The NY Times does a summary of it using data from the Manifesto Project. So, when that’s your environment for the last few decades, it’s hard to notice that a “centrist” from other countries is very likely to share the same and more left ideals than much of the US left-wing.
And the use of the spectrum by Americans is insane as well. It’s so misunderstood and emotional more than anything else. The major criticisms of the left-right spectrum are exactly what Americans do with it and what we’re seeing in comments here. The lines are drawn, the sides are made, they don’t necessarily watch the media, but all of their political consumption is shaped by it and it trickles into their views without realising or intending. This leads to them using the wrong terms for things, explaining traditionally right-wing ideals as if they’re left, and no understanding that a person—and most people—hold both left and right ideas on things. You could package up something right or left with an opposing label on it, and so many would eat it up, because “That’s what I am.” It seems so clear from outside the bubble, but not in there. In there it’s its own beast.
They should be pissed that they’ve come to behave like this, but they don’t realise.
Very well said and you are on point with it. It is emotional because as you said even if you point it out Americans dig their heels in even further. Basically many people unfortunately become victims of propaganda as here in America it is very strong